Matt Luke and Rebels an early surprise in the 2019 recruiting cycle

We’re still a long way from signing day for the 2019 class yet there is no question that one of the biggest early recruiting surprises in not only the SEC, but the entire country, is the work of head coach Matt Luke at Ole Miss.

Ole Miss has 13 commitments for its 2019 recruiting class, which is currently the most among SEC programs.

Among those 13 commitments for the Rebels are two prospects, four-star running back Jerrion Ealy (Flowood, MS), and four-star athlete Diwun Black (Forest, MS) who are ranked among the top-100 overall recruits in the country according to 247sports.com.

On defense, the Ole Miss class is currently lead by three-star defensive end Jamond Gordon (Meridian, MS) and three-star safety Jay Stanley (Brandon, MS) Both Gordon and Stanley are among the top-25 overall prospects in Mississippi for the class of 2019.

Speaking of Mississippi prospects, it is vital for Luke and Ole Miss to not only keep kids at home, but to get them to Oxford instead of seeing them head to Starkville to play for the Rebels arch-rival Mississippi State, who’s also among the early surprises for 2019.

Looking back at the past four recruiting cycles in the state of Mississippi, it is not a pretty picture for the Rebels.

Of the top-10 prospects in Mississippi each year from 2015-2018, Ole Miss signed just 10 of them. That means 30 of the top-40 prospects in Mississippi the past four recruiting seasons are playing college football somewhere other than Oxford.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State has been able to sign 16 of those top-40 Mississippi prospects over the past four recruiting seasons.

Luke and the Rebels are hoping to turn that trend around for 2019 and are off to a great start.